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All the new COVID-19 rules coming into force in England today

The measures will be in place for three weeks while the government attempts to "gather more information".

The Manc The Manc - 30th November 2021

A handful of new targeted measures have been introduced today to help curb the spread of the new Omicron variant.

The UK government says that the new measures – which were announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a Downing Street news conference this past Saturday evening, and confirmed by Health Secretary Sajid Javid this week – are being taken as a “precaution to slow down the spread of the variant”.

The measures – which came into effect at 4am – will be in place while the government attempts to “gather more information”.

These are:

  • All international arrivals must take a Day 2 PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
  • All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination status, and they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
  • Face coverings will be made compulsory in shops and on public transport from next week, and all hospitality settings will be exempt.

The introduction of these new measures come after there have been 11 cases of the variant first found in South Africa detected in the UK – five in England, and six in Scotland.

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Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the measures which have been introduced today are proportionate given the threat of the Omicron variant – which scientists fear could be more transmissible and vaccine resistant.

People who break the rules could be fined £200.

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Read more: People who refuse to wear masks in mandatory settings could be fined £200

Mr Javid told Sky News yesterday: “Doing it in this proportionate way where it’s for public transport, it’s for retail outlets, I think is the right level of response on masks.

“It will be via government regulation and that means, I think, that people will take it seriously.”

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Mr Javid also claimed that the tightening of the rules would make Britons take the threat of the virus “more seriously”.

The rules will be reviewed in three weeks time.

Featured Image – StockSnap / TfGM

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Chester Zoo has been given £4m lottery funding to ‘transform’ the local environment

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Chester Zoo nature

Chester Zoo has been awarded a £4 million grant of lottery funding to help ‘transform’ the local environment.

Merely months after being named the UK’s best zoo for the second year running, thanks to receiving more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ reviews from TripAdvisor, Chester Zoo has now been awarded a whopping £4 million – £4,073,372 in total – by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support its Networks for Nature initiative.

The Networks for Nature initiative is described as being an ‘ambitious project’ to restore wildlife habitats across the Cheshire and wider North West region.

The funds will be used to either create or restore 20 ponds, nearly 3,000 metres of hedgerow, and more than 100 hectares of habitat.

Chester Zoo helping the Cheshire countryside to flourish
Chester Zoo has been given £4m lottery funding to ‘transform’ the local environment / Credit: Chester Zoo

4,500 students will also be able to take part in year-long school projects to improve their school grounds for wildlife and people through the grants – which have been made possible thanks to money raised by National Lottery players – while 90 young people will have the chance to be trained in an environmental leadership course.

On top of this, 14 new jobs will also be funded through the money, 18 community groups will be worked closely with to improve their outdoor spaces for natural heritage, and the zoo’s network of trained ‘Wildlife Champions’ will continue to be supported.

Hannah Brooks, who is the Senior Community Participation & Engagement Manager at Chester Zoo, said The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant was a ‘massive boost’ for the zoo’s community groups.

Chester Zoo helping the Cheshire countryside to flourish
The funds’ll go towards an ‘ambitious project’ to restore wildlife habitats across the North West / Credit: Chester Zoo

“As a charity, we’re so grateful that this funding has come through,” she commented.

“This is an exciting moment for the project, there has been a lot of work behind-the-scenes to bring people together and find out what these community groups need to take action to improve spaces for wildlife and people, and now, we will be able to support people to make real change across a vast landscape.

“This could really transform things for the environment in Cheshire and for the people who live here.

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“Individual action can be difficult, but collectively we can inspire each other and provide a network that will keep having impact long into the future.”

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

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MediaCityUK makes huge pledge to Salford Youth Zone

Danny Jones Danny Jones Media City donate 100k to Salford Youth Zone

MediaCityUK has committed a sizeable new pledge to nearby Salford Youth Zone, becoming a key patron for the increasingly important community cornerstone.

Initial work on Salford Youth Zone (SYZ) only began back in 2023 but is already promising to become an important outlet for so many through the borough.

Set to open later this summer and now with backing from none other than the hugely influential entity that is MediaCityUK, SYZ’s inaugural year will hopefully get off to a wonderful start.

As its own city with the national media hub boasting a huge reputation of its own, its great to get more eyes on and profile behind the project.

Teaming up with Salford Council and Empower Youth Zone (EMPOWER) – the youth work charity behind the already established HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton and the soon-to-open SYZ – MediaCity has become the latest and one of their most generous patrons yet.

Pledging a huge donation of £100,000, MediaCity will be supporting the charity at large with an extensive volunteering and business support programme over the next four years at the very least.

As a Landsec Futures employability partner and influential hub for the creative industries in the UK, MediaCity are looking to work closely with SYZ and its partners to provide greater access in creative spaces and with local businesses.

Landsec (who have recently acquired full ownership of the MediaCity brand) are equally committed to creating places that deliver lasting positive impact for both communities and the environment.

As per an official announcement of the partnership, “It joins the growing EMPOWER patron community, funding vital services that enable young people to break down barriers, unlock potential, and build brighter futures.”

Salford Youth Zone – situated adjacent to Belvedere Road and Broadwalk in Pendleton – is set to open seven days a week, deliver more than 200 volunteering days each year, as well as offer completely free membership to support thousands of young people in the city and across Greater Manchester.

For those who have come across the exciting new ‘FRAMELESS’ exhibition over in Salford Quays, this comes not only in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery but SYZ itself in one of its first big activitations for 2025.

Here’s a whistle-stop tour of the £6.2 million youth centre and activities space.

Speaking in an official statement, MediaCity Managing Director Martin Chown said of the welcome new partnership: “Salford is an important part of our journey, and deepening our roots here reflects our commitment to enriching the communities we’re part of.

“Partnering with EMPOWER will help us continue to drive forward a thriving creative community while s upporting talented young people. MediaCity has become a cornerstone of Salford’s identity, helping the city attract leading businesses and driving investment into the city.

“It’s a bridge between Salford and the creative industries, and we want to ensure local people feel like a career in the creative industries is within their reach. EMPOWER’s arrival in Salford will make a material difference to young people and the wider community, so we’re proud to be supporting the team.”

Adam Farricker, CEO of Empower, went on to add: “Our partnership with Landsec is another powerful step towards our mission to support young people across Greater Manchester. MediaCity sits at the heart of the city, and we want our young people to feel connected to its energy and community spirit.

“Young people are full of potential but often need the right support to overcome the barriers they face and truly believe in themself. Together, with the MediaCity team and Landsec, we’re working to ensure every young person, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to grow, succeed, and move towards a better future.”

With the recently unveiled ‘Content Studio’ to boot, it’s happening in Salford and another exciting event is also heading back to MediaCity this season.

Popular outdoor dining event returns to MediaCity waterfront this summer
Salford Youth Zone isn’t the exciting collab with MediaCity this year.

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Featured Images — Arran Bee (via Flickr)/Salford Youth Zone/Sophia J Carey (supplied)

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